Have you ever thought about killing someone you just met a few hours ago?
Kaelith had.
Multiple times, actually. In the past four hours alone.
Imeena Cromwell had a gift. Not the magic kind though Kaelith suspected there was something powerful curled behind those golden sigils but a personal gift.
A rare talent for being exactly the kind of person you wanted to push off a balcony. And the worst part? She hadn't even done anything truly awful yet.
Just... existed. In all that cold, simmering, arm-crossed, eyes-like-blades, muscles-under-a-coat, "I hate joy" kind of way.
Now, hours after that sparkling introduction, they were no longer in the rune-lit arrival hall.
Kaelith had been escorted more like herded, really through a series of ceremonial corridors, courtyards full of star-touched trees, and now stood just outside the grand gates of the Celestian castle.
Imeena hadn't followed her inside. Not exactly.
Instead, just before they'd reached the steps, the woman had spoken, low and without looking her way.
"You won't see me," Imeena had said, her voice like stone dragged across velvet. "But I'll see you. Even in the throne room."
Kaelith had opened her mouth, ready to ask if Imeena was also going to start narrating her movements, but the woman had vanished behind a shadowed alcove, and the guards had ushered Kaelith inside.
And yet—
She could feel her.
Somewhere, on the edges of the room, past the crystal arches or behind the golden curtains, Imeena's eyes were there. Watching.
Kaelith tried not to shiver.
The Celestian throne room was made to impress.
Everything about it whispered power without shouting. The floors were gleaming white marble veined with starlight silver.
The walls curved upward like the inside of a gemstone, rippling with soft magic and refracted light. Floating orbs drifted above like captured constellations, and the air carried the scent of jasmine and sunlit snow.
At the end of the long hall, seated on a throne shaped like a blooming moonflower, was Queen Serisa.
Her silvery-gold robes flowed down the steps like living light, and the ceremonial tattoos across her arms glowed faintly with runes Kaelith only half-recognized.
Her long moonlight-colored hair was braided up into a regal crown, and her mismatched eyes—one silver, one aqua—watched everything with unsettling calm.
Elysia had always said Serisa didn't speak unless it was worth breaking the silence.
She was also, incidentally, Kaelith's godmother.
Well you must wonder why? Ask Lara who had a child with Serisa.
Bounding up the throne steps, barely giving the guards a warning glance, was Lily.
Kaelith barely had time to react before arms were flung around her neck and a body collided against her chest like a missile made of joy.
"Kaelith! It's been forever!"
Lily pulled back, beaming. Her black curls bounced with every movement, and her skin glowed under the moonlight glass like rich copper polished with starlight.
Little black horns poked through her hair like misbehaving crowns, small and delicate but already showing their demon heritage. Her red eyes sparkled like wildfire behind a mischievous grin.
Kaelith grinned back before she could help it.
"It's been five months."
"That's basically forever."
"You sent me seventeen letters."
"And you replied to, like, three of them. Rude."
Kaelith chuckled, letting herself be dragged forward.
Lily turned with a flourish, raising her arms to the room. "Your royal stabby is here!"
Queen Serisa blinked. Slowly.
Kaelith bowed with practiced grace. "Queen Serisa."
The queen inclined her head. "Kaelith. You've grown."
"I try."
"Not tall."
"Still trying."
Then, Serisa's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Where is Lara?"
Lily immediately pretended to be examining the throne's left armrest.
Kaelith bit the inside of her cheek.
"Out being… Lara," Kaelith offered.
Serisa exhaled. "I swear, if she seduced the council priest again—"
"Not again," Lily piped in brightly. "They're still arguing over whether she counts as a recurring sin or a divine test."
Serisa pinched the bridge of her nose and muttered something in ancient Celestian that Kaelith was fairly sure translated to goddess grant me patience or a well-aimed comet.
"Lily," Serisa said, "show our guest to her chambers. And make sure she doesn't end up involved in anything your other mother left half-finished."
"Too late," Lily sang, already grabbing Kaelith's wrist.
Kaelith managed a graceful nod before being yanked down a hallway with the force of a miniature tornado.
Their boots echoed through crystalline corridors carved from pale skyglass and infused with soft humming magic. Paintings shimmered on the walls—living illusions that flickered between serene mountain views and famous battles of Celestian history.
Kaelith admired the architecture. Lily walked like she owned the palace.
"So," Lily said after a minute. "How's life in Demon Disney?"
Kaelith snorted. "Peaceful. Surprisingly chaotic. Still dramatically lit."
"Sounds like a dream."
"Mostly nightmares with good catering."
"Did your mom finally agree to this because of diplomacy or exhaustion?"
"Yes."
"Valid."
They turned a corner and approached a tall double door engraved with Kaelith's name in three languages—Demonic, Celestian, and Old Common.
Lily pressed her hand to the sigil pad and the door swung open.
The room inside was stunning. Arched ceilings with woven silver banners. A bed that could fit four people. Soft sun-laced carpets.
A study corner with floating bookshelves. And a balcony overlooking the glowing central lake that reflected the stars even during the day.
Kaelith took it in, then turned toward the wardrobe and froze.
Lily's grin grew wide.
"What," Kaelith said slowly, "is that face."
"I'm just saying," Lily replied, practically vibrating with chaotic glee, "you got the hottest bodyguard ever. Like—seriously. That woman's bones could murder people."
Kaelith tried very hard not to react.
She failed.
"I hadn't noticed."
"You're a terrible liar."
"I'm not."
"She looks like she eats swords for breakfast and bench-presses guilt."
"She looks like she hasn't smiled since the war ended."
"Exactly. Hot."
Kaelith covered her face with one hand and groaned.
Lily leaned in, whispering like they were sharing a crime. "A lot of people would kill for a bodyguard like that."
Kaelith muttered through her fingers, "I might kill her first."